Brandon is still serenely asleep when I go back to my room at four in the morning. I need to pack my things for the trip, and I don’t want to disturb him.
I hadn’t felt so safe sleeping with someone next to me for a while, other than my mother, but something inside me just doesn’t want to surrender all. I had to move out of the room, at least for the night.
The sky is clear and sunny as I go out at six. Oliver is standing next to a black SUV, settling the luggage inside. He’s dressed in a casual polo shirt, khaki shorts, and a pair of brown leather topsiders.
“Good morning, Ollie.” I approach him. My voice is still croaky.
“Wow, someone’s happy,” he remarks. Taking my suitcase, he shoves it into the compartment.
“That’s a lot of baggage. I thought we were only going to stay for a night and two days?”
“Betty’s coming too, but we’re going to meet her later.” He shuts the compartment door. “You ready?” He grins.
“Yes, where’s Brandon?”
“He’s inside the car. Get in.”
Oh. I didn’t notice him. Ollie opens the door for me, and my heart almost melts at the sight of Brandon inside. I smile, biting my lips.
This isn’t a dream. I slide into the seat next to him. I can already feel the warmth of his presence. He is casually dressed, like Oliver, only in black.
I instantly want to embrace him, but his expression is impassive.
“I get that you’re not used to sleeping next to anyone,” he says icily. “But you didn’t wake me when you left.”
“I’m sorry. I just didn’t want to bother you.”
“She’s right. You need a good sleep.” Ollie gets in the driver’s seat and buckles his seatbelt. “Guys, I still need to pick Betty up. You don’t mind, right, Brandon?”
“No.”
I sigh and touch the unmasked side of his face. I shift it toward me and peck his lips. He sniffs my hair. “You smell so good. I’ve missed you already.”
I wrap my arms around him and bury my face in his chest. He smells so divine himself. “Me too.”
“Guys, are you ready?” Ollie asks as soon as he gets into the driver’s seat.
“Let’s go, Ollie,” Brandon answers, and Oliver starts the car.
Brandon doesn’t seem to mind when Betty sees him for the first time. She’s waiting in front of her house, a tall, slender, raven-haired woman. Her hair falls just above her shoulders, and she has almond-shaped eyes and full lips. I remember Oliver told me she is half-Japanese.
I guess Betty knew about Brandon’s situation. She isn’t surprised at all to see him. This is yet another time a person other than his family has seen him. She sits in front beside Oliver and smiles pleasantly at us. Brandon doesn’t respond, so I greet her back.
“Oh, good morning. It’s great to finally meet you, Alayna,” she says with a smile. “Thank you for including me on this trip.”
“It’s great to meet you too, Betty. It was not my idea. Ollie here just doesn’t want to have fun without you.”
She grins. “He’s so sweet, isn’t he? I really hope Brandon doesn’t mind,” she says as she looks at Brandon, who’s busy staring out the window. I elbow his side.
He looks at us. “Oh, I’m listening, and yes, anything for Oliver. I don’t mind.”
He shifts his eyes away again. I rest my head on his shoulder. I love being with this man so much.
Am I in love with him?He turns his body, so we are almost facing each other. Any woman can fall in love with a man like Brandon. I close my eyes and smile at the warmth of his body against mine.
I open my eyes and realize that I have fallen asleep when the car stops in an airfield. Oliver and Betty are the first to get out. A private jet with “Grethe and Elga Enterprises” written in bold letters on the side is already waiting for us.
“Alayna, Brandon, come on!” Oliver shouts at us from afar. He, Betty, and another guy step into the plane.
“Who’s that guy with Oliver?”
“It’s his co-pilot,” Brandon informs me.
“Ollie can fly a plane?” Gee, that man just has a lot of talents. “Brandon, he can do almost anything. He takes care of you, cooks for you, runs the company, and now he can fly a plane? Add the fact that he still has time to date. Are you sure he’s not Superman?”
Brandon laughs softly. He seems very proud of his cousin.
“He’s a great man. I’ve relied on him almost my whole life, and he learned everything just to help me. I owe him a lot.”
“Oliver needs you in his life, too. He’s also lucky to have you. He wouldn’t have acquired all of this knowledge if not for you, right?”
He smiles. “Yes, you have a point.”
We land in Portland after a few hours. A Bentley SUV is already waiting for us at the airfield, probably owned by Brandon.
“Good morning, Mr. Katrakis,” a man in his late forties wearing a black suit tells Oliver, and his eyes automatically settle on Brandon. “How are you this morning?”
“Good morning, John.” Oliver pats the guy’s shoulder. “Greet your boss. He’s our one and only Chairman of Grethe and Elga Enterprises, Brandon Lucien. Brandon, this is my right-hand man, John.”
John gapes at him with widening eyes. He stares at Oliver until he finally turns to Brandon.
“It is a great honor to finally meet the man I’ve been working for many years. Mr. Lucien, I’m John Harper.” Mr. Harper extends a hand to Brandon.
“You’ve been a good right-hand man to Oliver. It’s my pleasure.” Brandon flashes a small smile and shakes his hand. “And this is my girlfriend, Alayna.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Harper,” I say.
“No need for formalities, ma’am. Call me John. Shall I take you to your destination now?” he asks his bosses.
“Yes, please, John.” Oliver envelops Betty’s waist with his arm and kisses her temple.
John opens the door for us. Oliver and Betty step in first.
“Your network is a lot bigger than I thought,” I whisper to Brandon.
He grins. “I know, but this is the first time I met John. He also knows about Annette’s case,” he explains.
God, Annette.The woman I’ve known as Lucia for years, a person who’s famous for her one-of-a-kind recipes and whom I idolized until I found out that she is Brandon’s father’s mistress. There’s a lot more to know about Brandon’s life.
“I thought you said you don’t trust someone easily, but you entrusted a lot to a person you hadn’t seen for five years?” I say matter-of-factly. I don’t want to ask about Annette.
“I trust Oliver more. I just don’t see John, but I talk to him often.”
“Mr. Lucien?” John calls, holding the door.
“Okay, come on. I’m excited about what you have in store for me!” I giggle.
“Of course.”
A gray sky covers the city. There’s nothing in the view except tall trees, and the road is tranquil. A few houses dot the highway, miles away from each other. Only a few people are walking on the streets. I’d never been to this part of the US.
Brandon was silent on the drive. He just kept staring at the streets or the thick gray clouds. I don’t want to ask him what he’s thinking, but his quietness bothers me.
We turn onto another road. I can see the beach from this side of the road, but it looks dull, probably because of the gray sky.
Why did he choose this place? I was expecting him to take me to a lovely, sunny, dry place where we could stroll around—or at least do something outdoorsy. It’s so gloomy in this part of Portland. It’s not that I’m complaining; I’m fine wherever he takes me as long as I’m with him.
But an hour later, we head to the coast. The ocean and townhouses are already in sight, so it isn’t gloomy anymore.
“Hey.” Oliver’s voice cuts the stillness.
“Oh, hey...” I respond.
“Come on, we are here. This is where you and Brandon are going to stay,” says Oliver as he points to the house in front of us. A lovely, massive luxury house in the middle of the woods.
Great!
“Wow. Is this for real?” I ask in amazement.
He laughs. “Yes, but John, Betty, and I are going to stay in that house.” He points out another house—a smaller version of the one in front of us. He seems to notice his cousin’s silence as well. “Brandon, are you okay?”
“Yes. I am okay. I’m sorry,” Brandon says.
“You’ve been very quiet,” his cousin observes. “Anyway, let’s go in!”
“I just don’t remember the last time I was here,” says Brandon in a low tone. “Come on, baby. Time to unpack.” He kisses my cheek and steps out of the car, following Oliver and Betty.
Baby.“Brandon, John’s going to help you with your things. There are also housekeepers we can call if you need one. Your snack is already prepared in the dining room. As for Betty and me, we’re going to our place. I need a shower,” Oliver says.
“We’ll see you at lunch,” Betty says with a smile.
I smile at the sight of them. They look so cute together. I noticed how sweet Oliver is to her; he was always kissing her. I loved seeing them together.
“Yes. Thank you, Ollie, Betty,” I say.
“Mr. Lucien, Ms. Hart, shall we go?” John carries our bags inside.
“Brandon, help John with the other luggage,” I call to Brandon, who’s now speaking to his cousin. “John, I’ll carry my bag, thank you.”
“Sure. Here it is, Miss Hart.” He gives me my knapsack, and I hang it on my shoulders.
Brandon follows us in a hurry as we briefly part ways with Oliver.
“Alayna, are you ready?” he asks softly, and his expression changes. He doesn’t look bored or bothered at all. He leans forward and presses a kiss to my forehead. “Come with me upstairs after our snack. I can’t wait to finally have you alone,” he whispers in my ear, making me shiver.
“Really?” I flash a playful grin. “And what are we going to do?”
“You wanted to know me better, right? You’re going to know the real Brandon Lucien, now,” he says and winks at me. He walks into the house first, leaving me open-mouthed.